Recommendations for layout and planning of drawings offices

IS 5197: Scope Summary

• Scope: Specifies layout, space requirements, and standards for drafting/reference tables in design and planning offices.
• Drafting/Reference Tables Size: As per IS 4212-1978.
• Layout Updates: Includes space for officers, photographic and reprographic rooms.
• Arrangement: Drafting tables face one side; distance between tables in a row is defined.
• Rounding Off: Final test/analysis values rounded per IS 2-1960, maintaining significant figures as specified.

Key References:

Typical Drafting Table Layout (Simplified):

flowchart LR
    A[Reference Area] --> B[Drafting Table 1]
    B --> C[Drafting Table 2]
    C --> D[Drafting Table 3]
    style A fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    style B fill:#bbf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:1px
    style C fill:#bbf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:1px
    style D fill:#bbf,stroke:#333,stroke-width:1px

For detailed dimensions and spacing, refer to IS 4212-1978.

IS 5197: Drawing Office - Location, Size & Departments

1. Location (Clause 2.1)

• Situated near other project departments for easy access.
• Preferably north-south orientation.
• Free from noise, vibration, fumes, smoke, dust.
• Air conditioning mandatory in hot-dry/hot-humid regions; desirable elsewhere.

2. Size & Space Requirements (Clause 2.2)

• Space includes circulation.
• Furniture sizes per IS 4212-1978.
• Larger areas recommended for special equipment/models.

3. Departments & Minimum Areas (Clause 2.3)

• Chief’s office: Positioned for full-length view of drawing office.
• Administration section
• Record & schedule section
• Print room: Min. 15 m²
• Drawing storage room
• Photographic/documentation room: Air-conditioned, min. 15 m²
• Reprographic room: Air-conditioned, min. 15 m²
• Reference library
• Workshop-cum-modelling room
• Conference-cum-display room
• Drawing record room: 20 m²
• Tiffin/recreation room (optional)

flowchart LR
    A[Chief's Office] --> B[Drawing Office Workspace]
    B --> C[Administration]
    B --> D[Record & Schedule]
    B --> E[Print Room (15 m²)]
    B --> F[Drawing Storage]
    B --> G[Photo/Documentation (15 m², A/C)]
    B --> H[Reprographic (15 m², A/C)]
    B --> I[Reference Library]
    B --> J[Workshop/Modelling]
    B --> K[Conference/Display]
    B --> L[Drawing Record (20 m²)]
    B --> M[Tiffin/Recreation]

This layout ensures functional zoning, efficient workflow, and comfort per IS 5197 guidelines.

Space Requirement for Officers in Design, Drawing & Planning (IS 5197)

1. Floor Area per Officer (Clause 3.1)

2. Special Rooms & Minimum Areas (Clause 2.3)

• Print Room: ≥ 15 m²
• Photographic/Documentation Room (AC): ≥ 15 m²
• Reprographic Room (AC): ≥ 15 m²
• Drawing Record Room: 20 m²
• Drawing Storage Room, Reference Library, Workshop-cum-Modelling, Conference-cum-Display, Tiffin/Recreation: As per office needs

3. Drawing Office Layout & Furniture (Clause 2.2)

• Size should allow future expansion and coordination by housing sections under one roof.
• Area per estimator: 5 m²
• Storage area for drawing records/models: 50% of officer area
• Storage for estimates/design files: proportional to estimator area
• Furniture size per IS 4212-1978 to be considered.

Drafting Table Layout (Conceptual)

flowchart LR
    A[Reference Area] --> B[Drafting Table Row 1]
    B --> C[Drafting Table Row 2]
    C --> D[Drafting Table Row 3]
    style B fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:1px
    style C fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:1px
    style D fill:#f9f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:1px

• Drafting tables face one side.
• Distance between tables as per ergonomic norms (typically 1.2 m center-to-center).

Summary:
Ensure officer spaces meet specified minimum areas, provide dedicated rooms with minimum sizes, and allow for ergonomic drafting layouts with room for expansion. Use IS 4212-1978 for furniture sizing.

IS 5197: Furniture and Fixtures for Drawing Offices

Key Specifications:

• Drafting Tables:

  • Provide a soft board partition above the table, rising to 2.1 m from the floor for display/reference (Clause 4.2).
  • Tables should conform to ergonomic and functional requirements (Clause 4.1).

• Chairs & Stools:

  • Drafting chairs and stools must meet ergonomic standards (first revision specs).

• Space Requirements (Clause 3.1):

  Position	Floor Area (m²)
  Assistant/Deputy Architects/Planners	16.5
  Senior Architects/Town Planners	22
  Chief Architects/Town Planners	27.5

• Filing Equipment:

  • Must conform to IS: 2695-1974 for drawing filing (Clause 9.2).

Typical Layouts (Figures 1-5):

• Side reference arrangement
• Right angle reference arrangement
• Extension bench layout
• Back reference arrangement with combined drafting and reference tables

Summary Table: Drafting Table Partition Height

flowchart LR
    A[Drafting Table] --> B[Soft Board Partition (2.1 m high)]
    A --> C[Drafting Chair/Stool]
    A --> D[Reference Area]
    D --> E[Side/Right Angle/Back Layouts]

This ensures ergonomic, functional, and organized workspace conforming to IS 5197.

IS 5197: Lighting and Ventilation for Drawing Offices

Lighting (Clause 5.1 & 5.1.1)

• Illumination Levels:

• Key points:
  • High illumination is essential due to fine, low-contrast visual tasks.
  • Use fluorescent lighting fixtures to minimize direct glare.
  • Fixtures should be positioned relative to drafting tables to avoid glare.
  • Natural lighting must be supplemented by artificial lighting.

Ventilation (Clause 5.2)

• Air-conditioning is mandatory due to the nature of work.
• Ceiling fans should be installed for additional air circulation.

Additional Specifications:

• Soft board partitions of 2.1 m height above drafting tables for display/reference.
• Reference standards exist for drafting tables, chairs, and stools (first revisions).

flowchart LR
    A[Natural Light through Windows] --> B[Artificial Lighting]
    B --> C[Fluorescent Fixtures]
    C --> D[Positioned to Avoid Glare]
    D --> E[Illumination Levels: 300-450 Lux]
    F[Air Conditioning] --> G[Comfortable Ventilation]
    H[Ceiling Fans] --> G

This ensures optimal visual comfort and air quality in drawing offices per IS 5197.

IS 5197: Finishing of Walls and Floors (Key Points)

• Walls:

  • Finished in light, restful shades for general rooms.
  • Photographic rooms: Non-staining, mat finish black to avoid reflections and stains (Clause 6.1).

• Floors:

  • Use PVC sheets, tiles, or similar resilient, sound-absorbent materials (Clause 6.1).
  • Flooring must support noise reduction and durability.

• Additional Specifications:

  • Photographic rooms require air-conditioning or exhaust fans designed to prevent external light ingress (Clause 5.2.2).
  • Drawing filing equipment must conform to IS 2695-1974.
  • Drafting/reference tables sizes per IS 4212-1978 (Clause 4.1.1).

Summary Table for Finishing

Conceptual Layout (Mermaid Diagram)

graph LR
  Walls -->|Light colour finish| GeneralRooms
  Walls -->|Mat black finish| PhotoRooms
  Floors -->|PVC/resilient material| AllRooms
  PhotoRooms -->|Ventilation| AC_ExhaustFans
  AC_ExhaustFans -->|Prevent light ingress| PhotoRooms

This concise guidance ensures compliance with IS 5197 for optimal finishing in drawing offices and photographic rooms.

IS 5197: Layout of Drawing Studio — Key Points

1. Layout Guidelines (Clause 7.1)

• Drafting/reference tables arranged at right angles to walls with windows.
• Windows should be on the left side of the draftsmen to avoid shadows on drawings.
• Typical layouts shown in Fig. 1 to 5 (not included here) illustrate:
  • Distance between drafting tables.
  • Reference area positioned to the left of drafting tables.
  • Drafting tables facing one side for uniform lighting.

2. Location and Size (Clause 1.1 & 2)

• The drawing office includes:
  • Drawing room
  • Printing room
  • Store room
  • Photographic and reprographic room
• Space allocation considers officers and equivalent rank personnel involved in design and planning.

3. Lighting and Ventilation (Clause 6.3)

• Windows must be fully glazed for maximum natural light.
• Use anti-glare glass where feasible.
• Venetian blinds recommended for controlling light and glare.

Typical Distances (from updated layouts)

Summary Diagram of Layout Concept

flowchart LR
    W[Window with natural light]
    D1[Drafting Table 1]
    D2[Drafting Table 2]
    R[Reference Area]
    W -->|Light from left| D1 & D2
    R -->|Left side of tables| D1 & D2
    D1 --- D2

Note: For detailed dimensions and layouts, refer to IS 5197 Fig. 1-5.

IS 5197 - Printing Room Key Specifications & Guidelines

Layout & Equipment (Clauses 8.1 & 8.2)

• Equipment includes printing machines, developing machines, dry machines, trimming machines, and ancillary tools.
• Arrange machines for orderly workflow allowing a single operator to handle multiple operations.
• Design for scalability: additional operators can be added without interference.
• For dry printing without ammonia chambers on machines, provide separate ammonia rooms.

Fire Safety (Clause 7.3)

• Provide metal waste paper bins at strategic locations to reduce fire hazards.

Ventilation (Clause 5.2.1)

• Printing rooms must have exhaust fans plus ceiling fans.
• Ensure adequate air changes for ventilation and fume removal.

Practical Recommendations (from engineering practice)

flowchart LR
    A[Raw Material Input] --> B[Printing Machine]
    B --> C[Developing Machine]
    C --> D[Drying/Trimming Machine]
    D --> E[Finished Output]
    subgraph Operator Workflow
        B & C & D
    end

Summary: Design printing rooms for smooth workflow, fire safety, and proper ventilation per IS 5197 clauses 5.2.1, 7.3, and 8.1-8.2.

IS 5197: Drawing Storage Room - Key Specifications & Formulas

Location & Size (Clauses 1.1, 2.2, 2.3)

• Drawing Storage Room is part of the drawing office layout.
• Minimum area for drawing record room: 20 m² (Clause 2.3 m).
• Print, photographic, and reprographic rooms require ≥15 m² each.
• Storage space for drawing records and models: 50% of area for draughtsmen (Clause 2.2 c).
• Storage space for estimates and design files: a percentage of estimator area (Clause 2.2 d).

Space Requirements (Clause 2.2)

Additional Specifications

• Metal waste paper bins with lids should be placed nearby for fire safety (Clause 8.3).
• Chief's office should ideally have a full-length view of the drawing office for supervision (Clause 2.3 a).
• Ample space should be provided for expansion and coordination.

flowchart TD
    A[Drawing Office] --> B[Chief's Office]
    A --> C[Administration]
    A --> D[Record & Schedule]
    A --> E[Print Room (≥15 m²)]
    A --> F[Drawing Storage Room (≥20 m²)]
    A --> G[Photographic Room (≥15 m², AC)]
    A --> H[Reprographic Room (≥15 m², AC)]
    A --> I[Reference Library]
    A --> J[Workshop & Modelling]
    A --> K[Conference & Display]
    A --> L[Tiffin/Recreation Room]

Summary:
Plan drawing storage room ≥20 m², allocate 50% of draughtsman area for records/models, ensure fire safety bins, and provide space for future expansion per IS 5197.

IS 5197: Photographic Department Key Specifications

• Room Use: Dark room for accurate reproduction with enlargement/reduction.
• Room Finish (Clause 6.1):
  • Walls: Non-staining matte black finish to avoid reflections.
  • Flooring: Resilient, sound-absorbent PVC sheets/tiles recommended.
• Ventilation (Clause 5.2.2):
  • Air-conditioned or equipped with exhaust + ceiling fans.
  • Exhaust fans must prevent external light entry and remove fumes efficiently.
• Storage of Materials (Clause 9.3):
  • Unused rolls stored on ends if large quantity.
  • Partially used sensitized materials stored in light- and damp-proof cabinets with lids.
  • FIFO system recommended (old stock used first).
• Equipment: Number/type of cameras depends on drawing office size (Clause 10.1).

No explicit formulas or tables are provided in IS 5197 for this department. Focus is on environmental control, storage, and finishes to ensure quality photographic reproduction.

flowchart LR
    A[Photographic Department] --> B[Dark Room]
    B --> C[Matte Black Walls]
    B --> D[Sound-Absorbent Flooring]
    A --> E[Ventilation]
    E --> F[Air Conditioning OR Exhaust + Ceiling Fans]
    F --> G[No External Light Entry]
    F --> H[Fume Removal]
    A --> I[Storage]
    I --> J[Unused Rolls on Ends]
    I --> K[Light/Damp Proof Cabinets]
    I --> L[FIFO Stock Use]

IS 5197: Key Specifications for Reprographic Room

1. Room Function & Equipment (Clauses 10.1 & 8.1)

• Photographic room is a dark room for sharp reproduction with enlargement/reduction.
• Equipment and number of machines depend on drawing office size.
• Machines arranged for sequential workflow; allow single or multiple operators without interference.
• For dry printing without ammonia chambers, provide separate ammonia rooms.

2. Ventilation & Lighting (Clause 5.2.2)

• Photographic rooms must be air-conditioned or have exhaust fans plus ceiling fans.
• Exhaust fans must prevent external light entry and ensure no fume accumulation.

3. Layout & Space (General)

• Maintain orderly machine placement for efficient workflow.
• Distance between drafting tables and reference areas should facilitate ease of access and operation.

Summary Table: Reprographic Room Requirements

flowchart LR
    A[Drawing Office] --> B[Reprographic Room]
    B --> C[Photographic Equipment]
    B --> D[Printing Machines]
    D --> E[Ammonia Room (if dry printing)]
    B --> F[Ventilation System]
    F --> G[Exhaust Fans (no light entry)]
    F --> H[Ceiling Fans]

This ensures efficient reproduction with safety and environmental control per IS 5197.

Fire Fighting Equipment - IS 5197: Key Points & Specifications

Clause 12.1:

• Portable fire extinguishers must be installed in drawing offices not having a fixed fire fighting system.
• These extinguishers must conform to IS: 2190-1979 (Code of practice for selection, installation, and maintenance of portable first-aid fire extinguishers).

Important Specifications from IS 2190-1979 (Referenced)

Installation Guidelines (Summary)

• Extinguishers must be easily accessible and placed near potential fire hazards.
• Regular inspection and maintenance as per IS:2190.
• Size and number depend on area and fire risk.

Units & Symbols (SI Units from IS 5197)

Summary Diagram: Fire Extinguisher Placement in Drawing Office

graph LR
A[Drawing Office] --> B{Fire Fighting System?}
B -- Yes --> C[Fixed Fire Fighting System]
B -- No --> D[Portable Fire Extinguishers (IS:2190)]
D --> E[Types: Water, Foam, CO2, Dry Powder]
D --> F[Placed in Departments & Near Hazards]

For detailed design and maintenance, refer directly to IS:2190-1979. This code governs selection, installation, and upkeep of portable extinguishers in Indian offices.